As I started thinking about my annual year-end email and video to promo industry members, I briefly thought about asking ChatGPT to write a draft for me. After all, ASI is all-in on AI. We’re building powerful tools into ESP+ to help you move faster, communicate more clearly and get ideas in front of clients sooner.

But this message is one I still want to write myself.

Because as much as technology continues to evolve, what makes this industry special hasn’t changed. It’s the people. The relationships. The conversations that turn into ideas, partnerships and long-term trust. After more than two decades in this business, it’s the handshakes and hugs that stay with me.

That’s why one line you’ll hear in my video matters so much to me: AI isn’t the future. People leveraging AI is the future.

What excites me most about where we’re headed is how innovation and human connection are coming together. AI and automation in ESP+ are removing friction from some of the hardest parts of our work. That’s powerful because it frees you up to do what you do best: build relationships and help customers use promo to tell their brand’s story.

I’m incredibly proud of what we accomplished together this year.

We continued our evolution as a technology-first company, with ESP+ making major strides toward managing the industry’s entire supply and marketing chain in one intuitive platform. We nearly doubled the number of hosted-buyer events while continuing to reinvent our three major trade shows, because in-person connection still matters. We helped members capitalize on the growing convergence of print and promo, while preparing for the debut of the 50,000-square-foot ASI Pavilion at PRINTING United Expo in Las Vegas in September 2026.

And through it all, we stayed laser-focused on supporting the entrepreneurs and small-business owners who power this vast industry. Our goal is simple: Help you serve customers better and grow your business, no matter your size or focus.

“AI isn’t the future. People leveraging AI is the future.”

Beyond the ESP+ platform, ASI continued to deliver the information you rely on. Our research teams provided trusted benchmarks through studies like the Counselor State of the Industry and Global Ad Impressions reports. Our news team kept you informed on fast-moving issues, especially tariffs, with news coverage and analysis. Our on-demand education and podcasts focused on what matters now: sustainability, emerging markets, better sales strategies and smarter use of data.

Throughout, we tried to make everything useful, relevant and, yes, even a little fun. This is a creative, entrepreneurial industry and it should feel that way.

As we look ahead, our focus at ASI remains clear. We’ll keep investing in AI-driven tools, integrated workflows and superior data. We’ll keep listening closely to your feedback. And we’ll keep bringing the industry together – digitally and in person – because the future of promo isn’t just about products.

It’s about people, empowered by technology, moving this industry forward together.

Thank you for your business and your trust in ASI.

Warm regards,
Timothy M. Andrews
ASI President & CEO